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  1. Garden & Outdoor
  2. Patio
  3. Size: Compact

Small Patio Ideas and Designs

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Fulham Courtyard
Fulham Courtyard
Lucy Willcox Garden DesignLucy Willcox Garden Design
This Courtyard was transformed from being an Astro Turf box to a useable, versatile Outdoor Room!
West London Courtyard
West London Courtyard
Karen Rogers at KR Garden DesignKaren Rogers at KR Garden Design
Walpole Garden, Chiswick Photography by Caroline Mardon - www.carolinemardon.com
West Coast English Retreat
West Coast English Retreat
Tierra Madre Fine GardensTierra Madre Fine Gardens
Photo by Samantha Robison
Bluestone Wheaton
Bluestone Wheaton
Hursthouse Landscape Architects and ContractorsHursthouse Landscape Architects and Contractors
Outdoor Kitchen
Outdoor Kitchen
DeGoey DesignsDeGoey Designs
Atlantic Beach Contemporary Compact Backyard
Atlantic Beach Contemporary Compact Backyard
Cascade Outdoor DesignCascade Outdoor Design
Small spaces can provide big challenges. These homeowners wanted to include a lot in their tiny backyard! There were also numerous city restrictions to comply with, and elevations to contend with. The design includes several seating areas, a fire feature that can be seen from the home's front entry, a water wall, and retractable screens. This was a "design only" project. Installation was coordinated by the homeowner and completed by others. Photos copyright Cascade Outdoor Design, LLC
Chicago Outdoor Kitchen
Chicago Outdoor Kitchen
Kalamazoo Outdoor GourmetKalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet
Mr. and Mrs. Eades, the owners of this Chicago home, were inspired to build a Kalamazoo outdoor kitchen because of their love of cooking. “The grill became the center point for doing our outdoor kitchen,” Mr. Eades noted. After working long days, Mr. Eades and his wife, prefer to experiment with new recipes in the comfort of their own home. The Hybrid Fire Grill is the focal point of this compact outdoor kitchen. Weather-tight cabinetry was built into the masonry for storage, and an Artisan Fire Pizza Oven sits atop the countertop and allows the Eades’ to cook restaurant quality Neapolitan style pizzas in their own backyard.
Zelkind Residence
Zelkind Residence
Revive Landscape DesignRevive Landscape Design
Copyright Protected by: Lori Brookes Photography
Malvern Courtyard
Malvern Courtyard
Formation Landscapes Pty LtdFormation Landscapes Pty Ltd
Dylan Lark
Rustic Peastone Patio & Garden - World's End, Hingham
Rustic Peastone Patio & Garden - World's End, Hingham
UserUser
The goal of this landscape design and build project was to create a simple patio using peastone with a granite cobble edging. The patio sits adjacent to the residence and is bordered by lawn, vegetable garden beds, and a cairn rock water feature. Designed and built by Skyline Landscapes, LLC.
Mustang Park, Carrollton
Mustang Park, Carrollton
AquaTerra OutdoorsAquaTerra Outdoors
AquaTerra Outdoors was hired to bring life to the outdoors of the new home. When it came time to design the space we were challenged with the tight space of the backyard. We worked through the concepts and we were able to incorporate a new pool with spa, custom water feature wall, Ipe wood deck, outdoor kitchen, custom steel and Ipe wood shade arbor and fire pit. We also designed and installed all the landscaping including the custom steel planter. Photography: Wade Griffith
4th Street Townhouse, Park Slope
4th Street Townhouse, Park Slope
Harper Design BuildHarper Design Build
New Urban Garden
New Urban Garden
SED DesignSED Design
Eastern Henrico Project
Eastern Henrico Project
Glen Allen Grounds Management, LLCGlen Allen Grounds Management, LLC
Residential Firepit & Seating Wall
Transitional Patio
Transitional Patio
Trevor Street, London
Trevor Street, London
Randle SiddeleyRandle Siddeley
Outdoor Kitchens and BBQ Areas
Outdoor Kitchens and BBQ Areas
Design Outdoors LimitedDesign Outdoors Limited
A countryside garden with a BBQ and side burner, Reclaimed brick used for the structure.
Small Garden in Hampstead Village, London
Small Garden in Hampstead Village, London
The Garden BuildersThe Garden Builders
Ben Robert - Blooming Photography
Garden Design Crystal Palace, South London 6
Garden Design Crystal Palace, South London 6
Kate Eyre Garden DesignKate Eyre Garden Design
Firepit
Firepit
Embassy Landscape GroupEmbassy Landscape Group
concrete pavers, flower pots, retaining wall, lake view

Small Patio Ideas and Designs

Patios are the go-to solution for turning your garden, or part of it, into an outdoor living area. A well-laid patio will integrate your home seamlessly into your garden, providing a solid and level surface for garden furniture and potted plants. Well designed patios are about more than just paving slabs – its positioning and layout are crucial to how much you enjoy this space. Before you start picking out patio ideas for materials and laying your patio, ask yourself important questions such as what will you use it for? How many people should it accommodate? Which part of your garden has the best aspect and sunlight? Will the patio have enough privacy?

How should I position my patio?

If you are designing your patio as a space for entertaining then make sure it’s wide enough for the garden furniture you want so you haven’t got guests tipping over into the flowerbeds. Don’t be wedded to the idea of having your patio attached to the house; think about positioning yours elsewhere in the garden if that space doesn’t offer the best aspect or lighting position. Consider the position of the sun through the course of the day and depending on whether you are most likely to want to dine outside at breakfast, have lunch on your patio or host dinner outside, you may want to position your patio differently. You can connect patios to your house with a footpath or stepping stones to allow easy transportation of food and drink.

How should I design and lay my patio?

Rectangles are the classic shape for patios, not least because they make the most efficient use of space and can be softened with garden edging. However, a rounded patio or a paving circle can perfectly complement a garden which isn’t linear in design. Paving slabs come in an extensive range of materials and are the most practical surface for patios. Yorkstone has the most traditional appeal, whereas concrete blocks, granite and slate patio slabs have a great texture and colour for modern gardens. Natural stones such as limestone, travertine and Indian sandstone vary in colour and finish and are a great way to add shade and texture to your patio. For some patio ideas that offer an alternative to block paving, loose material such as crushed stone and wood chippings have a rustic and more casual feel; if there are specific materials that re-occur elsewhere in the garden, you could repeat this in your choice of patio materials for consistency. Finally, it’s not a British summer without the great British barbeque, so look at patio ideas that incorporate barbeques and think about how you could accommodate one on your patio.

What garden furniture does my patio need?

Rattan garden furniture is a patio favourite, offering a durable, attractive finish that blends well into natural surroundings. Metal garden furniture and wooden garden furniture are sturdy alternatives available in many styles. Weight is a good feature in garden furniture to stop it from being blown away, but if you want to be able to move your furniture around the patio and garden to follow the sun you won’t want to go too heavy. Browse the various patio ideas that include garden furniture to see what styles of furniture go with different types of patios. If you find a particular patio set you like, you may be able to ask the designer where the furniture is from so you can look at buying the same set for your patio. Good, outdoor patio furniture crafted in high-quality materials should withstand bad weather, but cold, wet British winters followed by strong sun in the summer will be enough to weather even the best furniture, so it’s important to have somewhere, such as a shed, to store it when not in use for long periods of time. If you don’t have the space to store patio furniture, make sure that at least the cushions and umbrellas are stowed away out of the elements, and consider investing in a waterproof cover. One piece of furniture that might be able to stay out for a bit longer is a patio heater; it will warm any brave patio users and most modern designs are built to survive the cold weather. If you prefer something a bit more rustic than a patio heater, look at fire pits instead which will add warmth and an attractive centrepiece to your patio. If privacy or shade is an issue, then covering patio furniture with a parasol or sheltering patios with a gazebo or pergola are both smart patio ideas – these can be covered in climbing flowers or even wound with outdoor fairy lights for romantic evening lighting.
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